Reports: Minnesota mall stabbing attack claimed by Islamic State

A man dressed in a private security uniform and making reference
to Allah, entered a St. Cloud Minnesota mall Saturday night and stabbed
eight people before being shot dead by an off duty police officer.
Seven people were treated and released from an area hospital and one was
admitted. Photo from Storm Chasers/YouTube

A group with ties to the Islamic State
militant group is claiming responsibility for the stabbing of eight
people in a Minnesota mall Saturday, saying the attacker was one of
their "soldiers."

The IS-linked Amaq Agency called the man "a
soldier of the Islamic State" who "carried out the operation in response
to calls to target citizens of countries belonging to the crusader
coalition," the Wall Street Journal reported. Several other news outlets are reporting on the Amaq Agency statement as well.

St. Cloud police would not confirm whether
they have made a connection between the stabbings and the group. He said
the attacker made reference to Allah as he carried out the stabbings.

An investigator close to the probe said they are trying to determine if there is an international terrorism link.

Police said they do not believe the stabbings
were connected with an explosion in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood
Saturday night that sent 29 people to the hospital. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the Chelsea explosion was definitely an act of terrorism, but investigators have not linked it to international terrorism. A second explosive device was found about four blocks away.

"The individual we believe to be responsible
for the victims' stab wounds is currently deceased inside the mall,"
Burke said in a statement Saturday night. The mall remained closed
Sunday.

St. Cloud Hospital spokesman Chris Nelson said
the eight victims were transported to an area hospital. Seven of them
had non-life threatening injuries and an eighth was admitted for
treatment.

Danny Carranza of Willmar and his children were in the play area near Macy's when the attack began.

"People came running around the corner and I
freaked out because I thought it was a terrorist attack or something
because I saw a lot of people, so I grabbed my kids," he said.

"I ran as much as I could and I heard someone yell 'Stop! Stop!' As soon as the door shut I heard gunshots," CNN reported.

Carranza said he and his children were released from the locked-down mall by 11:20 p.m., but his wife was still inside.

The suspect entered the Crossroads Mall
wearing a private security company uniform at the time of the incident,
witnesses said. St. Cloud Police Chief William B. Anderson said the man
asked at least one person if they were Muslim before he began his
attack, which occurred in multiple locations inside the mall and in
several stores.

An off-duty police officer shot the man dead.

Police did not identify the attacker, but said
he was known to them for at least three previous encounters for minor
traffic violations.

Anderson said he is not ready to call the attack terrorism related until more details can be hammered out.